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RESTRICTED DD447/Al6-3 Serial: 383 U. S. S. JENKINS (DD447)     9 December 1943 From: Commanding Officer.   To  : Commander, Battleships, Pacific Fleet.   Via : Commander Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-ONE   Subject: Camouflage observations of Battleships at sea.   Reference: (a) Combatpacflt Commander Battleships, Pacific Fleet visual desp 122124 November 1943.      1.     In accordance with reference (a) and while at sea in company with various units of Battleships, Pacific Fleet, observations were made of different types of camouflage in use with a view toward especially and separated camouflage at determining the effectiveness. These observations were made by different watch stations aboard ship and have been correlated to form one report.      2.     In daylight when ships are hull down variations in color are almost impossible to observe; masts and superstructure under nearly all conditions become merely gray shapes above the horizon. The light superstructure of the MASSACHUSETTS and WASHINGTON blended with a bright sky and might impede daylight detection. However, camouflage has little effect on long range detection of the presence of ships during daylight hours. The maximum range would be between 22,000 and 26,000 yards depending on the alertness of personnel. Overcast skies seemed to make little difference as long as the horizon was not obscured by mist or squalls. Squally conditions approximate in general the night conditions of paragraph 3.      3.     At night in all situations the INDIANA, and to a lesser extent the NORTH CAROLINA, was the easiest to spot due to the white blotches in camouflage. Next came the SOUTH DAKOTA and ALABAMA. Most difficult of all to see were the MASSACHUSETTS and especially the WASHINGTON. The combination of two-tone camouflage and separated superstructure of the WASHINGTON was the most effective camouflage at night. Maximum ranges, through optics were as follows: Dark night Moonlit night INDIANA 9/11,000 13/15,000 NORTH CAROLINA 8/10,000 12/14,000 SOUTH DAKOTA and ALABAMA 6/8,000 12/14,000 MASSACHUSETTS 6/8,000 10/12,000 WASHINGTON 5/7,000 8/10,000 Ships approaching through areas where the sun was reflected from the water would have their ranges of detection reduced by 4/5,000 yards, and through moonlit areas by about 2,000 yards. -1- 1125

RESTRICTED DD447/Al6-3 Serial: 383 U. S. S. JENKINS (DD447) 9 December 1943 Subject:   Camouflage observations of Battleships at sea. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -      4.     The pyramidal superstructure of the SOUTH DAKOTAS (BB 57-60) would be difficult to disguise. All BB's when seen from dead ahead or dead astern would be recognized as such by their beams. The NORTH CAROLINA and the WASHINGTON, when hull down, might be confused with cruisers. This confusion might be hightened where light areas near the bow and stern would make it difficult to determine the length of the ship. However, this would be only effective in hazy or squally weather and at ranges over 14/15000 yards.      5.     At night the dark paint of the SOUTH DAKOTA and ALABAMA made them loom up as bulky and therefore as large ships. Once the MASSACHUSETTS was seen, it too would be easily identified as a BB. On the INDIANA and NORTH CAROLINA the camouflage breaks up the outline and makes recognition difficult, especially since the NORTH CAROLINA can be mistaken for a cruiser. The difficulty of seeing the WASHINGTON plus its cruiser-like superstructure offers it good protection against recognition. Because of the small likelihood of confusion with other ships the following maximum ranges for identification as battleships may be inaccurate: Dark night Moonlit night SOUTH DAKOTA and ALABAMA 5/7000 8/9000 MASSACHUSETTS 5/7000 7/9000 INDIANA 5/8000 9/10,000 NORTH CAROLINA 4/6000 7/8000 WASHINGTON 3/5000 6/7000      6.     The INDIANA type of camouflage, particularly when used on ships with pyramidal superstructure, is the most effective disguise of target angle. This kind of camouflage, when used on NORTH CAROLINA, was rendered ineffective due to this ship's separated superstructure. Overcast skies increase the effect of this camouflage as a disguise of target angle. However under 14,000 yards daylight, judgment of target angle is not too difficult with any camouflage.      7.     At night the target angle of the SOUTH DAKOTAS (BB 57-60) was usually the most difficult to determine. Without other knowledge to assist in judging, confusion of target angles of 90º and 270º might have easily been possible. The INDIANA camouflage was also the most deceptive at night. The camouflage of the WASHINGTON and of the NORTH CAROLINA was of equal value as a disguise of target angle. Dark night Moonlit night SOUTH DAKOTA, ALABAMA, MASSACHUSETTS 4/5000 7/8000 INDIANA 3/4000 6/7000 NORTH CAROLINA and WASHINGTON 6/7000 8/9000 -2-

RESTRICTED DD447/Al6-3 Serial: 383 U. S. S. JENKINS (DD447) 9 December 1943 Subject:   Camouflage observations of Battleships at sea. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -      8. The camouflage of the NORTH CAROLINA and INDIANA made judgment of speed by bow wave very difficult. A clear view of the wave was hard to obtain even at such short daylight ranges as 4500 yards. Bow waves on other BB's with the possible exception of the WASHINGTON were clear at ranges around 9000 yards. However the very large black spot on the port bow of the INDIANA made the wake stand out very sharply. Bow waves on a dark night could hardly be seen at all except for occasional phosphorescence, and ranges on a moonlit night were about half those of daylight.   CC: ComDesDiv42

SOURCE:
National Archives & Records Administration, Washington DC
Record Group 313, US Fleet, Commander Battleships General Administrative Files 1940

Transcribed by RESEARCHER @ LARGE. Formatting & Comments Copyright R@L.

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